A new Spanish-themed episode of the long-running US cartoon series The Simpsons shows Homer Simpson living out one of his childhood dreams by visiting the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona with his childhood pen pal.

In the episode which aired in the US on Sunday, family man Homer Simpson sees his domestic routine upset by the arrival of his childhood pen pal from Spain.

Eduardo Barcelona — "or, in English Eddie Miami", as the character explains — is a glamorous Spaniard who has lived exactly the kind of adventurous life Homer once wished for.

"What happened to us Eduardo? We had so many things we wanted to do," Homer asks.

"I've been doing them!" the Spaniard explains. "I've had eight wives and 200 children, among them artists and doctors and revolutionary chefs."

The Spanish character turns out to be an amalgam of common US stereotypes of Spain — charming, deeply religious, and an inveterate womanizer.

At the end of the episode titled Yolo, a reluctant Homer drivers his Spanish friend to the airport.

"Do I drop you at the kerb or do I have to park and walk you in?" asks the father of three.